Quizzes
How Well Do You Know Your Pain Relievers?

Kate Lee
CONSUMER HEALTH INTERACTIVE

With the bewildering slew of analgesics lining pharmacy shelves, it's hard to believe there are only five active ingredients out there: aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, and ketoprofen. For a garden-variety headache, any one will do. But these drugs differ widely in their benefits and potential side effects. How much do you really know about the pills you take for pain?


1. You can become dependent on over-the-counter painkillers. True or false?

True
False

2. Ibuprofen works best for which of the following?

a. Menstrual cramps
b. Rheumatoid arthritis
c. Sunburn
d. All of the above

3. Naproxen sodium and ketoprofen, the most recent analgesics to become available without a prescription, are more effective than the old standbys. True or false?

True
False

4. Who should not use acetaminophen?

a. Children
b. Sore athletes
c. People who are allergic to aspirin
d. Pregnant women

5. Aspirin is the best pain reliever for children. True or false?

True
False

6. It's okay to wash down your painkillers with any beverage, as long as it's not alcohol. True or false?

True
False